The Lowdown On Hair Loss And How To Prevent It, By The Trichologist To The Stars
When the opportunity came along to meet Svenson’s Chief Trichologist Michael Bernstein, one of the world’s leading specialists on the causes and treatment of hair fall and hair thinning, my initial thoughts were: Hair Loss? Me? Why would I want to go there? However, a quick look in the mirror revealed that this was actually a good chance to see a man who really knows a thing or two about an issue many people like to treat with a mixture of self-denial and ambitious comb-overs.
Upon arriving at Svenson’s Makati office on the 15th floor of GT Tower, I quickly encountered the first of a number of surprises in store for the day. Not only had Svenson arranged for Michael Bernstein to be present, but he had brought with him some celebrity reinforcements in the shape of Chico Garcia and Gino Quillamor. Looking at the fact that both have very full heads of hair, my first question was of course why in the world they would endorse anything related to hair loss? The logical answer to my conundrum quickly emerged, when it was revealed that the prevention of hair loss is an important part of the work carried out by Svenson. While customers can approach the company for help when the head hair vanishing act is already in full swing, the best thing to do is to start early and prevent hair thinning and hair loss in the first place. Clearly, for the very cheerful and chatty celebrity brand ambassadors, this is working pretty well and the proof is there for all to see.
During our interview, Michael brought up an interesting analogy by comparing his field of work to that of dentistry. We all go to the dentist in regular intervals to prevent damage to our teeth from occurring, and not just when the damage has already been done. Svenson does very much the same for hair. By not waiting until significant hair loss has already occurred, chances are better to keep a full head of hair for longer.
Surprise number two was the fact that Svenson’s current client base is almost equally split between male and female customers. While hair loss used to be a predominantly male problem, these days women are more and more affected as well. This can be traced down to many different factors, such as anemia, the contraceptive pill, childbirth, extreme weight-loss, a bad diet or hormonal changes due to stress. All women suffer from hair loss during their lifetime, especially in their 40s and 50s. By the age of 60, the hair replacement ratio will have slowed down even further due to cellular aging.
Surprise number three came when Michael revealed that, as far as men are concerned, hair loss is by no means a problem that only affects the older generation. To quote the man himself: “As soon as puberty stops, hair loss starts.” This cruel truth is down to the fact that from 16 to 30 years old, male testosterone levels are high and one of the main reasons for hair loss is testosterone being converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). So getting started with combating the condition early appears to be the wise thing to do. I wish someone had told me that about 20 years ago.
Michael Bernstein himself is often referred to as the Trichologist to Hollywood stars, a reputation the Los Angeles based hair specialist is clearly as proud of as he is discreet about the names of his A-List clientele. If you want to get an idea of just who may have sought his advice, you only need to take a look at the client list of José Eber, the world’s most recognized hair stylist. When José Eber opened his new salon in Beverly Hills, Michael Bernstein was offered the opportunity to open and manage the new Trichology Clinic, which meant attending to José’s celebrity clientele. The man clearly knows a thing or two about his trade, which brings me to the options available should one wish to address the issue of hair loss head on (pun intended).
Svenson offers a range of treatments, including Scalp Corrective Treatments, SVH (formulated to fight dihydrotestosterone or DHT, the main cause of hair loss), Revage Laser Hair Recovery Treatment (an FDA approved low-level laser therapy treatment) and StemPlus Therapy, the latest and most advanced anti-hair loss solution that activates and regenerates dying follicle cells.
Treatments are individually designed for the needs and preferences of clients, and while no prices were mentioned on the day, it’s safe to assume that this type of treatment will likely cost more than a normal visit to your favorite salon. Maybe instead of looking at the price, it’s better to think of the value a fuller head of hair can provide in today’s often beauty focused world. The prospect of ‘Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow’ is unlikely to be popular with anyone, and in future looking your metrosexual best may well also include a visit to one of the five Svenson branches in the Philippines as part of your regular beauty routine.
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The Lowdown On Hair Loss And How To Prevent It, By The Trichologist To The Stars
